The structure of society

Edo
Portuguese traders arrive in
Japan Japan (1543)

Haiku Poetry Woodblock printing

Cultural Flourishing -
“A Poppy Blooms” by Katsushika Hokusai 17th century, Edo
I write, erase, rewrite Japan
Erase again, and then
A poppy blooms.
Kabuki Theatre
“People on the Island of Zipangu (Japan) have tremendous quantities of
gold. The King’s palace is roofed with pure gold, and his floors are paved Watch these videos!
in gold two fingers thick.” https://youtu.be/xP3Mla0ECiE
Marco Polo (1254-1324)
https://youtu.be/8Zwi3XXLci8
https://youtu.be/8OYvdSvgSQY
 Mercenary - someone
who fights for money;
Pelt - the skin of an
animal
Persecuted - punished
Tolerance - allowing
people to choose their
beliefs

Under Tokugawa Ieyasu, daimyo were required to march to Edo to pay

homage to the Shogun every two years. The practice was called
Sankin-kotai. This stopped them warring with each other and plotting
wars against the Shogun.

In the 17th century, Ayutthaya was an important trading port in

Southeast Asia, and the capital of Siam.

A red seal ship was a ship given a
letter - a red seal - by the Shogun; the
ship could then trade with foreigners
and was protected by the Shogun.
The Japanese wanted pottery, animal pelts and ships from Siam, while
the Siamese bought weapons and employed Ronin as mercenaries to
help them fight the Burmese.
At times, Japanese Christians were persecuted by the Shogun so
many moved to the Ban Yipun, the Japanese town in Ayutthaya where
there was more religious tolerance.
The decline of the Samurai…

The Black Ships

Coal fueled paddle steaming ships - the industrial revolution had
happened to the western world, but japan was still feudal and
pre-industrial.
Modern cannons and weapons were for more effective than the
antique firearms the Japanese still used

Emperor Meiji restored to

power - 1868